Coin controlled dispensing machine



April 12, 1932. E. ,J, ABELL COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheet-Sheet Filed May 6, 1950 April 12, 1932.

E. J. AB ELL -COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNrr EDWARD J. ABELL, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT ooIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Application filed my 6,

This invention relates to a coin-controlled dispensing machine which is more particu-.

larly designed for merchandising-goods put up in cylindrical cans, such as soap, powder, corn, beans, tomatoes and the like, but which is adaptable for dispensing other articles of commercewhich have considerable bulk.

The object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, cheap and reliable machine of this character which isso constructed that it will surely deliver the contained packages of merchandise on the insertion of coin of the correct denomination, discarding coin and slugs of incorrect size, and which, while the articles on account of their size require a large discharge opening, has a delivery chute that is so tortuous that it is impossible to reach in and remove the articles without the insertion of the correct coin. In'the embodiment of the invention illustrated the casing contains a number 0t racks,

each adapted to receive a plurality of cylindrical cans stacked one above the other, with rotatable arms in the interior at the lower end of the racks and operated by the turning of a handle on the exterior, which push out the lowest can from the racks'in succession, and drop it into an inclined runway down which it rolls first in onedirection and after again dropping, rolls in the opposite direction to the discharge opening, the operating handle be ing held from turning suificiently to discharge a can unless a proper coin is inserted in a slot through the casing. I

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation. Fig. 3 shows a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. l shows a front elevation with the door removed and the lower portion of the casing cut in section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows on larger scale a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows on still larger scale a side elevation of the coin'controlled mechanisnnon the plane indicated by the dotted line 66 on Fig. 7, and showing two coins held at'the lower end of the entrance chute. Fig.7 shows the coin-controlled ends of the'fianges 13 equal tojthe 1.930. Serial No. 450,099.

mechanism looking fromthe front, the casing being cut in section. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the coin-controlled mechanism with a coin indicated as dropped into the mechanism. Fig. 9 is a similar view with the coin carried around in position'to unlock the operating handle; Fig. 10. is a view of the'coin mecha.- nism taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line 10 on Fig. 7, and looking in the direction of the arrow. p i V The casing 11 of the machine illustratedis divided in the interior by partitions 12 'pro- 7 vid-ed with vertically extending flanges 13 so as to form fourracks in whichthe cans ofmerchandise l t may be stacked when the hinged doorr15 at the front is opened and the hinged top 16 is lifted. The lowest cans" rest on ledges 17 that extend'horizontally from the partitions a distancebelow the lower heightof the merchandise cans,Figs. 1-5. Extending transverselyacross the casing in front of and somewhat below the lower openends of the racks is a passage 18, the

bottom ofwhich inclines toward one side and that opens at its lower end to a passage 19, the bottom of which inclines in the opposite direction (Figs. 3,4) and terminates at, the discharge opening'20 in the front of the casing, Fig. 1. s g Extending transversely beneath the lower ends of the racks is a shaft 21. An arm 22 is fastened to this shaft opposite the lower end of eachv rack. These arms extend from the shaft at with relation to each other (Fig; so that as thesha'ft' is rotated these four arms will engage and push out the lowest cans in the racks successively, that is, from onerack and then the' next rack, until all the cans are removed. "j Fastened to one end of the shaft 21 is a four-toothed ratchet wheel camaadapted to engage the teeth of this wheel is a pawl'24 mounted'on a disk 25 that is connected with adisk 26 on a shaft 27 to which the operating handle 28 i'sffastened, Figs. 7 ,10. When the handle is free to be turned upon theinsertion of the proper coin as hereinafter men]- tioned, the arms push thejcans successively from the ledges. As a can is pushed 'from til its supporting ledge by an arm it is tipped over into the passage 18 and rolls down that passage and drops into the passage 19, down which it rolls until it comes opposite the discharge opening. This duct for the cans, leading back and forth from side to side and dropping, eliminates the possibility of anyone passing a hand or implement through the discharge opening and reaching around and removing a can from any of the racks.

Fastened to the disk 26 is a disk 29 and a 'disk 30 that are spaced apart a distance slightly more than the thickness of the coin 31. of the Value of the cans of merchandise to be dispensed. The coin is inserted through a slot 32 in the side of the casing and slides down through the chutes 33 and 34 to a position above, the space between these disks 29 and 30. Figs. 6,7.

t he disk 29 has in its periphery a tooth 35 and a tooth 36 which teeth are adapted to engage with a latch 37 that is attached to a lever 38 which is pivoted at 89 to the back of the plate it). on which the control mechi anism is mounted. The latch is normally d awn ie- 1 se a to ngage e teeth y e spring 4,1. no coin has been dropped into thechute the tooth 35 will engage the latch when the handle is turned forward so that the handle cannot be. turned sufliciently far for the pawl 24; to engage the teeth of the rete ett i e 2 nd th e s the members turn the arms and cause the discharge of a tea lit eein. is dropped inte e l t it ledges-e11 a W n 2. (Fig th s di s ly mounted on a lever 43 that is pressed by a spring (if; sQ ha e p n W l PIQl n the ehnte sufliciently fa r to retain the coin. he. coin in position if the handle turned ashort distance backward a lug 45 that projects from the back of the disk 10 will en ag the Wed 4: e the lever tha is Ri d. at 8 nd. w P e s at e er he l; sei t wi hd ew the Pin'frem the Chute and allow the coin to drop. hen the handle s turned beet an t p n 2 is With a time t e te. a pi p je t g om t back of the disk 30 engages a, lever 48 and feree tha lever against e pul of e p n i9 so, as to project a pin 50, into the chute and prevent second coin from dropping, if two ain shoul ha en s r into h ie ebin es e andle i urn ba a plate 5 that is located between the disks 29 and 30 turns with them, moves to such a position that the pocket 52 in its upper edge'will receive the coin that drops from the chute and is guided, to the pocket by the incline 53. en the ed e et th Plat ha is pi ed to thelever 43 and extends into the space between the disks 29 and 3,0. lVith a coin is this eeketitpen urn ng the and e ward the coin engages, a cam 54: that is. attached to, the latch 37, and swings the latch out of the path of the tooth 35. This allows the handle to be turned forward sufficiently far to cause an arm to eject a can from its rack.

As the handle moves forward in this manner the pin 42 again enters the chute and the pin withdraws from the chute. The tooth 36 on the disk 29 engages the latch and limits the forward movement of the handle, requiring it to he turned back to normal position and another coin inserted before another can can be ejected. The pin 52 which is adjustable on the lever 13 extends into the chute but a very slight distance, just enough to catch a good coin. slug that is not exact size dropped into the machine will pass the pin 42 and drop down between the disks 29 and 30 into a trough 55 that will deliver it to a chute 56 (Figs. 6,

'2) down which it will slide to a slot 57 (Fig.

2) in the side of the casing.

After a coin has performed its work of causing the latch to release the handle it is carried around in the pocket until it drops out and down into the drawer 58 which is arranged in one side of the casing.

This machine 15 designed to dispense cans of considerable size, and their weight when A worn coin or a stacked one upon the other in the racks, is

such that it requires quite a strong pull on the handle to bring out the lower can from s the stack. In operation, as stated, if a slug or worn com is depos ted in the entrance slot it passes down and out through the exitslot.

If there is no coin in the machine the handle has limited movement forward and back which is not sufficient to eject a can. lVhen a good coin is dropped into the machine the handle is first turned back short distance to allow the coin to drop into. the carrying pocket, then the handle is turned forward, the coin lifting the latch so that the handle can be turned forward far enough for the pawl which turns with it'to engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel and turn the shaft which carries the fingers that push out the cans so that they will tip over into the inclined runway and roll first to one side, then drop down, and then roll to the other side in front of the discharge opening where they may be reached.

Springs 59 may be connected to a pin 60 projecting from the handle shaft in such manner as to cause the handle to normally remainv in an upright, neutral position. Fig. 2.

When the cans are placed in the machine the shaft carrying the ejecting fingers is preferably set so that on the first movement of the handle the can to be removed. will be that at the bottom of the third stack from the left, as seen in Fig. 5. The next movement of the handle will eject the bottom can of the second stack from the left, the third movement of the handle will eject the bottom can from the first stack on the left, and the fourth i movement-willeject the can from the fourth stack on the left. The cans will then be ejected in. this ordervuntil the supply is exhausted. i 7

For the purpose of determining when the supply of cans has-been exhausted, awe'ight 6l may be placed on top of the highest can in the fourth stack from the left, (Fig. 5), which weight has fingers 62 that project backwa-rdly. After the last can has been ejected these'ifingersengage a pin 63 which rojects from'a lever 64 that is connected y a link- 65 with a lever 66 pivoted to the insideof the sidewall of the casing. This lever carries a shutter 67 bearing the word Empty which, when the weight is Way down and its fingers engage the pin, will be drawn down in front of the window 68.

Fi 2. r i Y ilhe invention claimed is l. Dispensing mechanism'fo'r vending machines comprising a frame supporting a coin chute, a rotatory shaft carrying ejecting means, an oscillatory shaft having meansfor turning it backward and forward and means adapted when the oscillatory shaft is turned forward to turn said rotatory shaft, said os cillatory shaft also carrying a'coin receiving pocket, said pocket being normally out of line with, but adapted to be turned beneath the coin chute when the oscillatory shaft is turned backward, a latch adapted to normally obstruct the forward rotatory movement of said oscillatory shaft, a lever having a projection extendmg into the coin chute, and means,

movable with said oscillatory shaft adapted to engage said lever, when the oscillatory shaft is turned backward and the coin pocket is in line with the chute, and cause the .projection on said lever to withdraw from the chute and allow a coin to drop into the pocket, said coin in the pocket, when the oscillatory shaft is rotated forward causing the release of said latch so that suflicient forward movement may be given the oscillatory shaft to turn said rotatory shaft.

2. Dispensing mechanism for vending machines comprising a frame supportinga coin chute, a rotatory shaft carrying e ecting means, an oscillatory shaft having means for turning it backward and forward and means adapted when the oscillatory shaft is turned forward to turn said rotatory shaft, said oscillatory shaft also carrying a coin receiving pocket, said pocket being normally out of line with, but adapted to be turned beneath the coin chute when the oscillatory shaft is turned backward, a latch adapted to normally obstruct the forward rotatory movement of-said pocket, a lever having a projection extending into the coin chute, and means movable with said pocket adapted to engage said lever, when the pocket is turned backward and is carried into line with the chute, and causethe projection on said lever to withmeans and; a toothed wheel, an, oscillatory shaft having means for turning itbackward and forward and a, pawl adapted to engage said wheel, said oscillatoryshaft also carry inga coin receiving pocket, said pocketbeing out of line with, but adapted to be turned u beneath the coin chute, when the oscillatory shaft is turnedbackward, a latch adapted to normally obstruct the forward rotatory movement of said pocket, a lever havinga projection extending into the coin chute, and

means movable with said coin pocket adapted to engage I said lever, when. the,-pocket is turned backward and is oarried'into linewith the chute, and causethe projection on, said lever to withdraw from the chute and allow a coin to drop into the pocket, said coin in the pocket, when rotated forward causing the release of said latch so that said oscillatory shaft may be given suflicient. movement to allow said pawl to engage said wheel and turn the rotatory shaft. i j v r 4. Dispensing mechanism for vending machines comprising aframe supporting a coin chute,1 a rotatory shaft carrying ejecting means .and aftoothed wheel, an oscillatory shaft-having means for turning it backward and forward and a pawl adapted to engage said wheel, saidoscillatory shaft also carrying a coin receivingspocket, said pocket being out of line with, but adapted to be turned beneath the coin chute, when the oscillatory shaft is turned backward, a-latch adapted to normallyobstructthe forward rotatory movement of saidpocket,a lever having a projection'extending into the coin l chute, a lever ,1.

having a projection adapted to extend into i the coin chute above the former projection, means movable with said coinpocket adapted to engage said first mentioned lever, when said pocket is turned backward and is car'- ried into line with the chute, and cause the projection on saidlever to withdraw from the chute and allow a .coin to drop into the pocket, and means movable with said coin pocket adapted to engage said second men- 7.

tionedlever whenthe pocket is turned backward and cause the projection on said lever to enter the chuteand prevent a second coin from dropping, said coin in the pocket, when rotated forward causing the release of said :5

latch so that saidoscillatory shaft maygbe given sufficient, movement to allow said pawl to engage said wheel and turn the rotatory shaft, i

5. Dispensing mechanism for vending ma 33 chines comprising a frame supporting a coin chute, -a rotatory shaft carrying ejecting means and la toothed wheel, an oscillatory shaft havingmeans for turning it backward and forward and a pawl adapted to engage said wheel, said oscillatory shaft also carrying disks with a coin receiving pocket be tween them, said pocket normally being out of line with, but adapted to be turned beneath the coin chute, one of said disks having teeth on its periphery, a latch adapted to engage said teeth and obstruct the forward rotatory movement of the disks, a lever having a pin extending into the coin chute, means carried by said disks adapted to engage said lever, when the disks'are turned backward and the coin pocket is carried into line with the chute, and cause the pin 'it carriesto withdraw from the chute and allow a coin to drop into the pocket, a coin in the pocket, when the disks are rotated forward causing the disengagement of the said latch from tooth so that the disks may be given a sufficient movement to allow said pawl t oscillatory shaft .is turned backward, means normally preventing a coin from dropping from the coin chute, means movable with the oscillatory shaft for withdrawing said coin preventing means on the backward movement of the oscillatory shaft and permitting acoin to drop into the pocket, a latch normally obstructing a full forward rotatory movement of the oscillatory shaft, said latch being released. through the medium of a coin in the coin pocket and allowing the oscillatory shaft to be turned forward sufiiciently to turn the rotatory shaft with the ejecting means.

EDWARD J ABE'LLA engage the toothed wheel and turn the ejecting shaft.

6. Dispensing mechanism for vending machines comprising a frame supporting a coin chute, a rotary shaft carrying ejecting means and atoothed wheel, an oscillatory shaft having means for turning it backward and forward and a pawl adapted to engage said wheel, said oscillatory sh aft also carrying disks with a coin'receiving pocket between them, said pocketnormally being out of line with, but adapted to be turned beneath the coin chute, one of said disks having teeth on its pe- V riphery, a latch adapted to engage said teeth and obstruct the forwardrotatory movement of the disks, a lever having" a pin extending into the coin chute, alever having a pin adapted to extend intothe coin chute above the former pin, means carried by said disks adapted to engage said first mentioned lever, when the disks are turned backward and the coin pocket is carried into line with the chute, and cause-the pinit carries to withdraw from the chute and" allow acoin to drop into the pocket, means carried by said disks adapted to engage said second mentioned lever when the disks are turned backward and cause the pin it carries to enter the chute and prevent a second coin from dropping, a coin in the pocket, when the disks are rotated forward causing the disengagement of the said latch from a tooth so that the disks may be given a sufiicient movement to allow said pawl to engage the toothed wheel and turn the ejecting shaft.

' 7. Dispensing mechanism for vending machines oomprising a frame supporting a coin chute, a rotatory shaft with e ecting means, an oscillatory shaft with a coin receiving pocket normally out of line with .but adapted to be turned beneath the coin chute when the 

